The Kenya National Farmers’ Federation (KENAFF) recently concluded its Fourth Service and Business Development Workshop, held from August 14th to 16th, 2024, at the Farmers Conference Centre (FCC) in Thogoto. The workshop, expertly facilitated by Dr. Jasmine Sani of Andrea Hermes Akademie (AHA), was a significant event that brought together a diverse group of participants from across counties in Kenya, including representatives from Meru, Vihiga, Makueni, Machakos, Nandi, Nakuru, Siaya, Taita Taveta, Kakamega, and KENAFF staff from various departments.
Workshop Focus and Highlights
The three-day workshop was designed to address and advance various aspects of agricultural development. Key topics included KENAFF’s Farmers’ Health Insurance Cover (FHI), farmer exchange visits, proposal writing, soil fertility management, and future field days.
Participants engaged deeply with these topics, examining progress made, challenges encountered, and lessons learned in their respective areas. The discussions provided a comprehensive overview of the state of agriculture in Kenya and the strategies being implemented to enhance productivity and sustainability
KENAFF Headquarters:
The headquarters showcased notable progress with the introduction of several new products and services, including SILAfrica products, storage crates, silage wrappers, Sato toilet seats, water tanks, and hermetic bags. Despite these advancements, challenges such as accumulating minimum orders, low farmer awareness, and mismatches between demand and supply were identified. Lessons learned emphasized the need for more aggressive marketing and a better understanding of customer preferences.
Farmers’ Health Insurance (FHI):
The FHI initiative showed promising growth in member recruitment in Meru and Machakos. Some of the challenges included an expansion of the selected hospitals and difficulties in information dissemination. The key lesson here was the need for increased sensitization and addressing financial constraints to broaden adoption.
Exchange Visits:
Exchange visits to various counties and African countries provided valuable learning opportunities, though high logistics costs, climatic changes, language barriers, and legal constraints posed challenges. Effective planning and knowledge acquisition were identified as crucial benefits of these visits.
Proposal Writing:
In Siaya County, training in proposal writing was a notable success, although challenges like poor internet connectivity and lack of interest were encountered. The experience highlighted the need for improved skills in sourcing calls and writing proposals.
Nakuru County:
In Nakuru, significant achievements included the successful bulk purchase of seeds and recruitment of new cooperatives. This led to the procurement of 200 tonnes of seed maize. The county’s experience highlighted the profitability of bulk selling, the importance of diversifying suppliers, and the necessity of establishing strong market linkages.
Nandi County:
Nandi made strides with events like coffee field days, bee day celebrations, and dairy workshops. However, logistical challenges and the need for improved communication and traditional skills training were noted. The county’s experience emphasized the importance of prior sourcing and localized field days for better impact in future.
County-Specific Successes and Lessons
Nakuru County: Achievements included successful recruitment, field days, and bulk seed procurement. Challenges such as reaching farmers and communication issues were noted. Lessons learned pointed to the need for enhanced capacity building and improved visibility materials. KENAFF’s CEO Dr. Mwendah M’Mailutha applauded Nakuru and Meru counties highlighting that other counties should learn from the ‘star’ counties.
Meru County: Successes involved training, land acquisition, and the creation of a social media platform for farmers. Challenges included delays in membership subscription and low enrollment. Strategies to increase membership and garner local support were identified as necessary.
Nandi County: The County excelled in mapping farmers, organizing field days, and forming value chain platforms. Challenges included mixed value chains and limited resources for farmers. Decentralization and resource sourcing emerged as key lessons.
Vihiga and Busia: Successes included membership recruitment and leadership establishment. Challenges such as slow recruitment and limited extension services were addressed. The importance of collective marketing and farmer-to-farmer extension was emphasized.
Taita Taveta: Achievements in recruitment and progress in food security programs were noted. Challenges included inconsistent training and climatic conditions. More farmer sensitization and leadership training were identified as crucial.
Kakamega: Key successes included World Food Day celebrations and proposal development. Challenges like poverty and political interference were highlighted. Lessons learned included the need to avoid dependence on political patronage and reconsider food system priorities.
Migori County: Successes included field day organization and training, while challenges involved high member turnout and limited support. Additional support from HQ was deemed necessary.
Machakos County: Achievements included field day organization and NGO partnerships. Challenges such as membership payment issues and resource constraints were noted. Increased effort and partner engagement were recommended.
Looking Ahead
As part of future initiatives, Nakuru County plans to host a ‘Farmers’ Field Day’ at the Agricultural Training Centre (ATC) in the next twelve months. This event aims to enhance publicity, recruit members, and generate revenue. With an estimated attendance of 25,000, the field day will involve various stakeholders and be organized with substantial publicity efforts.
Meru County on the other hand, plans to start training trainer of Trainers (ToTs) on soil fertility and management and other counties present plan to follow suit in the near future.
In conclusion, the KENAFF Fourth Service and Business Development Workshop provided valuable insights into the progress and challenges facing Kenya’s agricultural sector in the county levels. The workshop underscored the importance of continuous learning, strategic planning, and effective communication in driving agricultural development forward.
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